Tummy Tuck Champaign

Plastic / Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. James Kurley located in Champaign, IL.

Abdominoplasty, known more commonly as a "tummy tuck," is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall.

Dr. James Kurley medical director of Advanced Aesthetics Surgery & Laser Center in Champaign, IL has performed hundreds of tummy tucks over his twenty years in practice in central Illinois and Indiana, including Bloomington, Springfield, Peoria, Decatur, Mattoon, Effingham, Illinois (IL) and Terre Haute, Indiana (IN). He has found a tummy tuck can dramatically improve the appearance of a protruding abdomen.

Are you a good candidate for a tummy tuck?

The best candidates for a tummy tuck are:

Men and women who are in relatively good shape but are bothered by a large fat deposit or loose abdominal skin that won’t respond to diet or exercise.

Women who, through multiple pregnancies, have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal.

Older people who have significant loss of skin

Dr. Kurley will help you determine whether you need a full tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck. A full tummy tuck allows tightening of both the upper and lower muscles of your abdominal wall along with sculpting of both the upper and lower abdomen. A mini-tummy tuck only involves the lower abdomen and requires a shorter incision.

Are you a good candidate for a mini-tummy tuck?

You may opt for a mini-tummy tuck if:

You have a small amount of abdominal skin to be removed and do not have a significantly protruding abdominal muscle wall.

If your abdominal area is beginning to sag due to aging or

You have a slim abdomen but want it sculpted into a more desirable look

What happens during your tummy tuck surgery?

Your tummy tuck is performed in our fully accredited (AAAASF) surgical suite located in our facility for your convenience. The ability to have your tummy tuck in our own facility helps to increase your safety and speed recovery as well as provides privacy not available in a hospital setting.

Full tummy tuck surgery usually take 2 to 3 hours, depending on the extent of work required. Mini- tummy tucks may take an hour or two. However, these times may be extended as Dr. Kurley can combine your tummy tuck with liposuction body sculpting if you are bothered by ‘love handles’ (excess fat above the hip area), and / or your outer thighs (saddlebags) or inner thighs.

Most commonly, Dr. Kurley will make an incision in the lower abdominal skin just above the pubic area. A second incision is made to free the navel from surrounding tissue. With a mini tummy tuck, the incision is shorter and the navel is not moved, however, excess skin above the navel is not tightened.

The skin flap is then stretched down and the extra skin is removed. A new hole is cut for navel, which is then stitched in place. Finally, the incisions will be stitched, bandages will be applied, and a temporary tube may be inserted to drain excess fluid from the surgical site.

Tummy tuck surgery does produce a permanent scar, however Dr. Kurley skillfully designs the scar to be hidden in all but the skimpiest of bathing suits.

What will your recovery be like?

For the first few days after your tummy tuck, your abdomen will probably be swollen and you are likely to feel some discomfort, which is controlled by multi-modality pain management. We currently utilize a long acting local anesthetic, Exparel, to diminish the amount of narcotic pain medication necessary. This long acting local anesthetic provides pain relief for 3-4 days after surgery, a major advance in tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) care. We are also combining the limited use of narcotics with supplemental nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medication, cooling therapy, compression garments, and early ambulation. Most individuals are able to leave our private, AAAASF accredited surgical facility in 2-3 hours after their tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) with instructions for home care. Although you may have some discomfort, you will be able to stand and walk very soon after surgery.

You will be seen the next day to be certain that all has gone well. Most people are not utilizing narcotic pain medication after about the fourth day and this means that you can be driving at that point in time. That is particularly important for the active parent who has to be responsible for their children’s activities (the Soccer Mom). Stitches around your belly button will be removed in 7 days, and there are no other stitches that need to be removed. A support garment will be used for 2-3 weeks, especially since Dr. Kurley often combines a tummy tuck procedure with liposuction in other areas such as “love handles”, “saddlebags”, or “inner thigh”. The compression garment helps to diminish swelling and bruising, provide support for the stomach muscles, and stabilize skin position in areas where liposuction had been performed. Dr. Kurley firmly believes that hospitalization after this procedure is potentially detrimental since most people enjoy the familiarity of their home surroundings.

You will be seen routinely by Dr. Kurley for the first 3 months after surgery to assure that the recovery process is progressing as would be expected.

How quickly can you return to normal physical activity?

If you start out in top physical condition, with strong abdominal muscles, recovery from a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) will be much faster. Most people return to work in 5-10 days, others may take longer depending upon the type of job they perform.

Exercise will help you heal faster. Even people who have never exercised before should begin a gentle exercise program to help improve the overall outcome. In the early recovery process, this lowers the risk of blood clots, diminishes the chance for pneumonia, and helps you to feel more normal more quickly. Dr. Kurley encourages a return to low impact activities such as walking, bicycling, or elliptical training even as early as 7-10 days after surgery. Vigorous exercise, such as, kickboxing or cross fit training, however, should be avoided for about 6 weeks. Dr. Kurley firmly believes that there is no substitute for good dietary habits and exercise as it relates to the overall outcome.

Will my stretch marks be gone?

Stretch marks (striae) that are located in the lower abdomen (below the bellybutton) are certainly going to be diminished. However, stretch marks (striae) that are located above the belly button will be transferred to a lower position, but not necessarily removed. Since the skin of the abdomen is tightened they are also likely to be less noticeable, even if they are not gone. Obviously, this can only be determined after a formal consultation session with Dr. Kurley.

How much weight will I lose with my tummy tuck?

The abdominoplasty procedure is designed to reduce abdominal skin excess (particularly the lower abdominal apron), tighten the abdominal muscles, and reduce excess fat. This does result in a variable amount of weight loss, but is primarily going to improve the overall shape and appearance of the abdomen both in and out of clothing. Generally speaking, weight loss associated with tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is in the range of 2-10 pounds. It is only very rarely going to result in large amounts of weight loss, but that is not the point with abdominoplasty. That is the point with panniculectomy where the lower abdominal apron is excessively elongated, but that is a very different procedure with very different expectations.

Your New Look

Tummy tucks, whether full or mini, produce excellent results for patients with weakened abdominal muscles or excess skin. And in most cases, if you follow a balanced diet and exercise regularly, the results are long lasting,

Call our Champaign, IL office today at (217) 356-3850 to schedule your consultation. We look forward to meeting you in person. Dr. Kurley is a member of the ASPS and ASAPS associations and is also active in the local community organizations. Dr. Kurley supports Champaign City Hall, Champaign Chamber of Commerce, Champaign Realty Board, Champaign Rotary

We at Advanced Aesthetics Surgery & Laser Center believe there should be nothing standing between you and your desire to achieve a fresh new you.

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